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Housing options if you are experiencing domestic abuse

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Housing options if you are experiencing domestic abuse

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If you need help

  • Call the police on 999 if you need immediate help. If you cannot speak and are on a mobile, listen to the operator and press 55 when prompted
  • Camden Safety Net is Camden’s domestic abuse service. Contact the duty worker on 020 7974 2526, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
  • If it's not safe for you to stay in Camden, you can approach any council to get support

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Council tenants

If you're a Camden Council tenant and experiencing domestic abuse, you should contact your Neighbourhood Housing Officer (NHO). They will help you access housing support and advise you about your options. This could include help to: 

  • secure your home and remove the perpetrator
  • access temporary accommodation, if you need to urgently flee 
  • move to a different council property using our housing allocation scheme  
  • move to a safe borough through a scheme with another council  

If your situation is urgent, call us on 020 7974 4444.   

At risk of homelessness 

If you're experiencing domestic abuse or feel unsafe in your home, we can provide you with confidential housing advice and support. You do not need to wait to flee, you can approach us at any point. The support we provide can include: 

  • help with extra security such as changing locks, personal alarms and reinforced doors  
  • providing access to a refuge or emergency accommodation  
  • assisting you with settled future accommodation 

If you're experiencing or are at risk of domestic abuse, you can ask any council for help to find another place to live. 

Find out what to do if you're experiencing domestic abuse and at risk of being homeless.

Council or housing association tenant in a different borough 

If you’re a housing association tenant or a council tenant in a different borough, we suggest that you contact your landlord directly to find out what help they can offer. They may be able to help you apply to move to a new safe home through a local transfer scheme, or a regional one such as the Greater London Authorities' Housing Moves scheme.

We want to make sure that you do not lose your right to a council or housing association tenancy because of the abuse that you have suffered. You can still make a homeless application to Camden and apply to join the housing register.  

Joining the housing register 

People experiencing domestic abuse are prioritised under our housing allocation scheme. This sets out the rules that decide who can apply for council and social housing available through the council. Demand for this type of housing is very high, and it can take a long time to be rehoused.  

If you require urgent housing support, you can also contact our Homelessness Prevention Team or your Neighbourhood Housing Officer if you're a current tenant.

You can ask any council for help to find another place to live. 

If you're not eligible for housing assistance 

If you have no recourse to public funds, this means that you're not eligible for most benefits or housing assistance. However, there may be other options available to you. Find out more about support if you have no recourse to public funds. 

Street homeless 

If you're sleeping on the streets, Routes off the Streets can provide support.

If you're homeless today and fleeing or at risk of domestic abuse, you can also contact us on 020 7974 4444. 

More information

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